Afrique Media Palaver: Minister Issa Tchiroma and Peter Essoka at daggers-drawn positions

The vice president of the National Communication Council, Peter Essoka has told the minister of communications and Cameroon government spokesman to mind his own business. The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, in a letter dated October 2, 2015 had instructed the Vice-President of the National Communication Council to lift the temporary suspension measure taken against Afrique Media TV station. Events took a dramatic u turn prompting both sides to question who indeed had legitimate authority over the brouhaha.

On Sunday, October 11, 2015, the Vice-Chairperson of the communication council, the Right Hon. Peter Essoka told the world that "despite the measures taken by the competent administrative authorities, Afrique media has never ceased to broadcast on Cameroonian territory, defying the decision of the council not by closing its offices, but to actually suspend broadcasting for a period of one month.” 

Consequently, Peter Essoka and the members of the National Communication Council have reiterated to the attention of the Cameroon public opinion that the penalty of temporary suspension of Afrique Media remains in force until its full and effective implementation. The standoff between the Minister of Communications and the National Communication Council therefore continues.